What Riles Me Up
Today I went to the store to get me a soft drink and as I was checking out there was a woman buying groceries. No biggie, everyone needs to buy food etc… She was using her EBT(electronic food stamps). Okay still no big deal. I know people need help, I’ve been there. What upset me was that right after buying the groceries, she purchases a pack of cigarettes.
Public forms of welfare are to help people out when times are hard. Which I understand the reason behind it. But it’s not a program for you to live off of. It takes personal responsibility to know that times are tough and you have to buckle down and start becoming very frugal. Means you save that 4 bucks your spending on cigarettes and keep it for something you absolutely need.
Before anyone begins to lecture me on “I don’t know what it’s like”, I’ve used EBT(food stamps) for 3 months. It was a rude awakening that I needed to watch what I spent my money on. It was difficult with just having a new born. I pulled back on the things I didn’t need. I watched ever penny, nickle and dime. 3 months later I didn’t get any promotion or new job, I was a point I didn’t need assistance because I managed my money better. I was still eligible for the assistance, but asked to be taken off because I could manage on my own. To me the people that need the temporary assistance are the ones that use it and then stop using it when they have picked themselves up. They benefit the most and should be given the assistance, but those that abuse the system and try to live off it need to get the rude awakening.
I know this is a contraversial topic, but it’s one I feel strongly about to voice my OPINION on. As always comments are welcome. Even if it differs from my point of view.
I couldn’t agree with you more. I can be sympathetic to somebody who is down on their luck and is fighting to get back on their feet, but there are things that have to be taken out of the budget.
I gotta agree with every word. My mother (shame) did the same thing. Would send me to the store with food stamps, but didnt have any trouble buying alcohol and cigs with her cash. I hated that part about visiting her.
There was one point about 13 years ago when my husband and I split up and I had my 2 yr old daughter, was working part time, with the plan to move to full time. Was making 16k per year and could barely pay the rent. I went to social services to get some temporary assistance. Emphasis on temporary! I was going full time by the end of the month and did NOT want to live on welfare. Too much pride I guess. I was told that I made too much money. Too much at 16k per year. I was told I would only qualify for daycare assistance but there was a 2 yr waiting list for that. I was livid. I asked what could I do to get a little bit of assistance, just for a month. The woman looked at me and said “well, you could quit your job.” That was the answer, quit my job, live on welfare, let the government take care of me. HELL NO! I walked out, went to my church on Sunday and they had a box of groceries waiting for me that lasted me almost 8 months, got me through that rough month til I went full time and work. But government wasnt the answer!
[...] Estel Powell » What Riles Me Up [...]
@Ryan McCoy
@terrilynnclark
I thank both of you for your positive feed back.
I want to tell you terrilynnclark, that is exactly what I point out to everyone. Your story on how the church helped you in your time of need is an excellent example of how the people should be! Family and community are the quickest and best help you can get. The government should be the last resort. And it’s sad when you do go to the government when you’ve exhausted your avenues and they tell you to quit working.
I think people would have a different view if the government asked you to pay back what you borrowed. People wouldn’t want to live on the assistance indefinitely. The government does a great job trying to regulate everyone else, but themselves.